I had the wonderful opportunity to renew my vehicle registration! It was exciting let me tell you! Here’s a couple links and process I saw and hopefully when you go in you can get all the info you need to make it a smooth day!
Useful Links
- KMC Vehicle Processing Center Interactive Guide
- Kapaun Vehicle Inspection Appointments
- Kapaun Vehicle Registration Appointments
- Ramstein Substation RMV Appointments
- Kapaun Vehicle Registration Facebook Page
- Ramstein AB Factsheet
- Driver and Vehicle Requirements and the Installation Traffic Code for the U.S. Forces in Germany
The Vehicle Inspection
The first stop for most vehicles is the inspection station. The entry gate is located here then you drive to the building located here.
The inspection will start with safety items. Make sure to have all your items ready for visual inspection which includes a safety vest, an unexpired medical kit, and traffic triangle. Always consult official guidance on which safety items are required because masks have been required in the past.
The inspectors will then drive your vehicle and check brakes, horns, seatbelts, and the chassis by going under the car. I have heard that the main concern is the tie rods and any leaks for the undercarriage inspection. They will give you a stamped registration with a pass marking on it or they will give you a form indicating which things caused a failure.
Completing Your Vehicle Registration
If you had a fail you’ll have approximately 30 days to fix it and then you can reinspect it. If you had great success then you can go get a registration from one of 3 places.
Kapaun Substation
The first place is right next door to the inspection area and is the Kapaun Substation. This place is walk-in only and there is no appointment website for this place. Be careful because on Friday they may stop walk-ins after lunch, which happened to me.
Ramstein Substation
The next common place is the Ramstein substation in the KMCC. It’s located on the second floor near the movie theater. They can do a lot of different activities related to paperwork. They just have 2 windows and you can bring your paperwork and get everything completed
I went here for my re-registration. I got my inspected then a week later went to the KMCC with my rear plate to get the new plate sticker and new registration form. If I remember correctly, the good inspection is valid for 30 days after the inspection.
Kapaun Vehicle Registration
The main station is located here. This is usually the first place people experience and it can be very chaotic so be ready! Always try to get an appointment at the main station if you can because walk-ins can be very tough to get a good spot. They can do all the different types of services so it is very busy. If you can go to another substation like Ramstein then you should because this place will leave you scarred!
Conclusion
This is just a quick look at how to get a re-registration completed. There are several different types of transactions anyone could have relating to a car. My first recommendation is to look at the interactive guide and see what paperwork is required. Next, make sure you get an appointment wherever you can. Walk-ins can be tough to manage.
Finally, make sure your vehicle is ready for inspection! This is the biggest part when it comes to making sure your car is ready for German roads. Small things can fail a car quickly. Always make sure your car is up-to-date on its maintenance and even wash it up before you inspect it. Start strong with a clean, good looking, car!
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